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This week, the United States handed over about 90 anti-aircraft interceptor missiles to Ukraine for the Patriot air defence system. They were taken from warehouses in Israel and delivered to Poland for further transfer to Kyiv. This was reported by Axios, citing three sources familiar with the situation.

According to the newspaper, this is the largest military transfer of weapons from Israel to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

How Ukraine got Patriot missiles

In April 2024, Israel officially decommissioned the Patriot air defence system. Most of the batteries, which were transferred to the country more than 30 years ago, were no longer used for their intended purpose – they were used for training purposes or simply stored.

After the decommissioning of the Patriot systems, Ukraine turned to the United States and Israel with a proposal to return the US missiles to the United States, restore them and hand them over to Kyiv.

However, the Israeli side delayed the decision for months, fearing Russia’s reaction. According to Axios sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not even answer calls from Ukrainian officials on this issue for several weeks.

Political bargaining: Patriot missiles and a pilgrimage to Uman

The tipping point came in late September, when Netanyahu finally agreed to return the Patriot to the United States.

A Ukrainian official told Axios that at the time, Netanyahu was trying to contact Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to get his approval for the annual pilgrimage of ultra-Orthodox Jews to Uman. However, Zelensky did not answer the phone until the Israeli prime minister approved the transfer of the missiles.

Netanyahu’s spokesman denies any connection between the two events, saying that the prime minister did not object to the Patriot’s return to the United States.

Israel’s official position and the future of Patriot

A senior Israeli official said that Israel had informed Russia in advance of the decision to return the missiles to the United States, stressing that this was not a transfer of weapons to Ukraine, but only the return of equipment to its rightful owner.

However, according to Axios, in addition to the Patriot missiles themselves, Kyiv may receive radars and other equipment that will first be refurbished in the United States.

This delivery is another important step in strengthening Ukraine’s air defence against the backdrop of constant Russian attacks.